Prepare, Connect, Respond

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• Prepare, Connect, Respond
• Disaster Ministry in the Congregation

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Power outage of Superstorm Sandy from Space
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Disaster Response

• A disaster response has
• A beginning(first response)
• A middle (Short and long term recovery)
• And an end(An exit strategy or closure)

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Disaster Planning
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Preparation for Disaster

• Assess
• Plan
• Organize
• Educate
• Drill

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Assess

• What kinds of disasters are likely here?
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Flooding
• Church fires
• Create a list of all kinds possible in area?
• Congregational Assessment
• Do we have a plan?
• Do our families have a plan - ARC

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Plan

• What interest do we really have?
• Set up a small task force or committee
• What resources are available to us?
• Funds, time and space
• How do we become disaster ready?
• Assess risks, mitigate, develop a plan, test the
  plan

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6 Steps to Prepare Congregation Disaster Response
Plan 1. Create a small task force or
committee (5- 7 people) 2. Determine status of
any Disaster plans 3. Create draft of Disaster
Response Plan 4. Gain Session input and
approval. 5. Share plan and educate
Congregation 6. Review annually and update
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• 6 Steps to Plan
• 1. Create a small task force or committee
• (5- 7 people)
• Passionate advocate, Communicator, Detail
  follow-up
• Gain consensus on process for creating plan

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• 6 Steps to Plan
• 2. Determine status of any Disaster plans
• Any prior plans for church
• Any community plans to consider
• Other nearby church plans

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• 6 Steps to Plan
• 3. Create draft of Disaster Response Plan
• Use Blank worksheet from Hands-On-Mission.org
  website
• Get feedback for Session and Deacons

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• 6 Steps to Plan
• 4. Gain Session approval
• Present draft for approval
• Make final additions and corrections
• Have final draft approved by end of March

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• 6 Steps to Plan
• 5. Share plan and educate Congregation
• Present at congregation meeting
• Maintain in digital form
• Send copy to Presbytery of Detroit
• Share copy with local community disaster
  authorities

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• 6 Steps to Plan
• Review annually and update
• Beginning of each year review plan to see if any
  new information should be included
• Complete change process if any significant
  changes made
• Share revised plan with Presbytery of Detroit

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Plan preparation Resources

• Congregational Preparedness Questions
• Prepared by Rev. John Robinson
• Review Howell Convention and Nature Center Plan
• See sample church plans online at
• hands-on-mission.org/disaster

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Organize

• Recruit people who will carry through on tasks
• Review roles and responsibilities
• Meet regularly with one another and with
  Emergency Response officials from the community

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Educate

• Promote awareness of disaster risks in the
  congregation
• Church newsletters and website
• Sunday bulletin Minute for Mission
• Sunday School Classes
• Youth and children can help with promotion
• Session
• Provide families with ARC disaster preparedness
  information about preparing for disaster

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Connect

• Presbytery of Detroit
• Complete Disaster Preparedness plan by March 31st
• Give digital copy to Hands-On-Mission Work Group
• Local Emergency Preparedness organization
• State - MIVOAD
• Other churches in proximity Methodists
  UMCOR Baptists Southern Baptist Men
  Lutherans LDR Salvation Army SADS
• Ministerial Associations

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Who to Contact

• Presbytery of Detroit
• For questions on the process there are 8
  PDA/Synod trained people in our Presbytery
• To contact them request through Mary Lloyd at
  hands-on-mission.org or call them personally
• PDA National Leadership Team members are Ben
  Pawley and Joan Ott (They are national trainers
  for disaster assistance)
• Pastors are Kelly Shriver and Evan McGowan
• Tom Duffield, Julie Smith from Pontiac FPC
• Tom Neal and Mary Lloyd from Hands-On Mission
• Website hands-on-mission.org